Pope John Paul II's death prompted a remarkable outpouring of grief and respect, not just from Roman Catholics but from admirers of all faiths.
The throngs that brought parts of Rome to a standstill paid homage to a man who helped bring freedom to his native Poland, traveled tirelessly to more than 120 nations and inspired young people to maintain their faith.
He was among the notable people who died in 2005.
So, too, was Rosa Parks, whose history-making achievement played out one evening in 1955 on a segregated bus in Montgomery, Ala., when she refused to give up her seat.
"The only tired I was," she later wrote, "was tired of giving in."
When she died in October, just a few weeks shy of the 50th anniversary of her arrest, she was mourned for a courageous decision that energized the civil rights movement and made the Rev. Martin Luther King a major leader.
Other heroes we lost in 2005 included Simon Wiesenthal, who hunted down Nazi criminals and campaigned against prejudice; Shirley Chisholm, the pioneering black congresswoman; and Fred Korematsu, who challenged the internment of Japanese-Americans during World War II.
In the arts, we lost playwrights Arthur Miller and August Wilson, who chronicled the American experience with searing truth; Nobel-winning novelist Saul Bellow, whose works throbbed with the alienation of the modern intellectual; and architect Philip Johnson, whose designs deeply influenced modernist style and its unorthodox successor, postmodernism.
Actress Anne Bancroft inspired audiences as the determined teacher Anne Sullivan in "The Miracle Worker" and raised eyebrows as the seductive Mrs. Robinson in "The Graduate." Johnny Carson amused "Tonight Show" viewers whether joking about presidents, firing off-the-cuff quips or clowning as Aunt Blabby. Peter Jennings fought to keep international events in the spotlight in television newscasts.
The world of government and politics lost Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist, whose conservative rulings stressed the powers of the states.
We also said goodbye to George F. Kennan, the diplomat and historian who influenced Cold War policy; Gen. William Westmoreland, who led the troops in Vietnam and always said he had "no regrets"; and former Sens. Eugene McCarthy and Gaylord Nelson.
Leaders in business who died included Peter F. Drucker, revered as the father of modern management; publisher John H. Johnson; and John DeLorean, who built a futuristic automobile bearing his name.
In sports: Max Schmeling, the German boxer whose battles with Joe Louis symbolized the rivalry between the U.S. and Nazi Germany, and baseball Hall of Famer Al Lopez, who died days after seeing his White Sox finally win the World Series.
Here, a roll call of notables who died in 2005. (Cause of death of younger notables is given when available.)
JANUARY:
Shirley Chisholm, 80. First black woman elected to Congress; first black person to seek a major party's presidential nomination. Jan. 1.
Rep. Robert T. Matsui, 63. Thirteen-term California congressman; Democrats' point man on Social Security. Jan. 1.
Will Eisner, 87. Artist who revolutionized comic books ("The Spirit"), helped pioneer the graphic novel. Jan. 3.
Robert Heilbroner, 85. Economist, wrote best-seller "The Worldly Philosophers." Jan. 4.
Rosemary Kennedy, 86. Mentally handicapped sister of President Kennedy; inspiration for the Special Olympics. Jan. 7.
James Forman, 76. A leader of the civil rights organization Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee. Jan. 10.
Ruth Warrick, 88. Star of soap opera "All My Children" who launched her career in "Citizen Kane." Jan. 15.
Virginia Mayo, 84. Versatile Hollywood star of 1940s and 50s ("White Heat," "The Best Years of Our Lives"). Jan. 17.
Vivian Green, 89. British historian; inspiration for John le Carre's spymaster George Smiley. Jan. 18.
Dr. Brandt F. Steele, 97. Psychiatrist who coined term "battered child." Jan. 19.
Walter B. Wriston, 85. Citicorp chairman; oversaw development of ATMs, growth of credit card lending. Jan. 19.
Rose Mary Woods, 87. President Nixon's secretary who said she inadvertently erased part of the Watergate tape that had an 18 1/2-minute gap. Jan. 22.
Johnny Carson, 79. Quick-witted "Tonight Show" host who became a national institution. Jan. 23.
Philip Johnson, 98. Architect who promoted the "glass box" skyscraper, then smashed the mold with daring postmodernist designs. Jan. 25.
William Augustus Bootle, 102. Federal judge; ordered University of Georgia's integration. Jan. 25.
Cordelia Scaife May, 76. Philanthropist, Mellon banking heiress. Jan. 26.
Nick McDonald, 76. Officer who subdued Lee Harvey Oswald after Kennedy assassination. Jan. 27.
Bill Shadel, 96. Broadcast journalist; moderated third Kennedy-Nixon debate. Jan. 29.
FEBRUARY:
Max Schmeling, 99. German heavyweight whose bouts against Joe Louis set off a propaganda war. Feb. 2.
Ossie Davis, 87. Actor and civil rights activist; his rich baritone and elegant bearing graced stage and screen. Feb. 4.
Stephen Gregg Sr., 90. Won Medal of Honor for helping rescue seven wounded comrades in World War II. Feb. 4.
Hubert Curien, 80. Architect of French space policy; a father of Ariane rocket. Feb. 6.
George Herman, 85. CBS political reporter; longest-serving moderator of "Face the Nation." Feb. 8.
Robert Kearns, 77. Inventor of intermittent windshield wipers; won big judgments against automakers. Feb. 9.
Arthur Miller, 89. One of the greatest playwrights of the 20th century, who gave the world "Death of a Salesman" and married Marilyn Monroe. Feb. 10.
Samuel W. Alderson, 90. Invented crash test dummies. Feb. 11.
Sister Lucia Marto, 97. One of three children who claimed to have seen the Virgin Mary in 1917 in the Portuguese town of Fatima. Feb. 13.
Rafik Hariri, 60. Tycoon who led the rebuilding of Lebanon as its prime minister. Feb. 14. Bombing in Beirut.
Uli Derickson, 60. Flight attendant who helped save passengers during the 1985 TWA hijacking. Feb. 18. Cancer.
John Raitt, 88. Robust baritone of Broadway ("Carousel") and Hollywood ("The Pajama Game"); father of Bonnie. Feb. 20.
Sandra Dee, 62. Teen-queen actress ("Gidget"); married Bobby Darin. Feb. 20. Complications of kidney disease.
Hunter S. Thompson, 67. Acerbic counterculture writer ("Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas"). Feb. 20. Suicide.
S. Ernest Vandiver, 86. Georgia governor; won office as segregationist but presided over peaceful desegregation. Feb. 21.
Guillermo Cabrera Infante, 75. Cuban-born novelist hailed as one of the most original voices in 20th-century Spanish literature. Feb. 21.
Simone Simon, 93. French screen star best known in U.S. for the 1942 thriller "Cat People." Feb. 22.
Hugh Nibley, 94. Mormon historian. Feb. 24.
Peter Benenson, 83. Founded Amnesty International. Feb. 25.
Henry A. Grunwald, 82. Time magazine editor who led its shift from conservatism to more centrist view; later ambassador to Austria. Feb. 26.
Jef Raskin, 61. Conceived Apple's Macintosh computer. Feb. 26.
MARCH:
Peter Malkin, 77. Israeli agent who nabbed Nazi Adolf Eichmann in 1960. March 1.
Tillie Fowler, 62. Four-term Florida congresswoman; prominent on defense. March 2.
Max Fisher, 96. Oil, real estate millionaire, philanthropist. March 3.
Harold Brooks-Baker, 71. Publisher of aristocratic genealogy guide Burke's Peerage. March 5.
Hans Bethe, 98. Won Nobel for figuring out how stars generate energy. March 6.
Teresa Wright, 86. Sweet-faced, Oscar-winning actress ("Mrs. Miniver," "The Best Years of Our Lives"). March 6.
The Rev. Nathaniel Urshan, 84. Longtime leader of United Pentecostal Church International. March 11.
George O'Brien Jr., 78. Won Medal of Honor for gallantry in Korea combat. March 11.
George F. Kennan, 101. Diplomat, Pulitzer-winning historian; gave the name "containment" to Cold War policy. March 17.
Sol Linowitz, 91. Businessman, diplomat; played key role in Panama Canal treaty. March 18.
John DeLorean, 80. Automotive innovator. March 19.
Bobby Short, 80. Suave cabaret singer; epitomized Manhattan sophistication. March 21.
James Callaghan, 92. Served three years as British prime minister in 1970s. March 26.
Tom Bevill, 84. Longtime Alabama congressman known as "King of Pork." March 28.
Johnnie L. Cochran Jr., 67. Became legal superstar during O.J. Simpson trial; "If it doesn't fit, you must acquit." March 29.
Howell Heflin, 83. Three-term Alabama senator; influential voice on judicial nominations. March 29.
Fred Korematsu, 86. Challenged World War II internment of Japanese-Americans. March 30.
Frank Perdue, 84. Folksy CEO whose commercials proclaimed "it takes a tough man to make a tender chicken." March 31.
Terri Schiavo, 41. Brain-damaged woman whose case became a national controversy. March 31.
APRIL:
Pope John Paul II, 84. Helped topple communism in Europe and left a deeply conservative stamp on the church he led for 26 years. April 2.
Saul Bellow, 89. Nobel-winning author of "Herzog," "Humboldt's Gift." April 5.
Dale Messick, 98. Created long-running comic strip "Brenda Starr, Reporter." April 5.
Prince Rainier III, 81. His fairy-tale marriage to Grace Kelly brought Hollywood glamour to Monaco. April 6.
Frank Conroy, 69. Memoirist ("Stop-Time"), director of famed University of Iowa's Writers' Workshop. April 6.
Kalman Ferenczfalvi, 84. Hungarian credited with saving 2,000 Jews during Holocaust. April 8.
Archbishop Iakovos, 93. Transformed Greek Orthodox Church in the Americas, championing religious unity, human rights. April 10.
Maurice Hilleman, 85. Microbiologist; helped save millions of lives with vaccines for chickenpox and other maladies. April 11.
Robert Granville, 89. FBI agent, headed team that arrested Julius and Ethel Rosenberg. April 12.
Peter Flaherty, 80. Two-term Pittsburgh mayor. April 18.
Zhang Chunqiao, 88. One of the Gang of Four that terrorized China during the Cultural Revolution. April 21.
Sir John Mills, 97. Oscar-winner for "Ryan's Daughter"; Hayley's father. April 23.
J.B. Stoner, 81. Unrepentant white supremacist convicted in 1958 church bombing in Birmingham, Ala. April 23.
Ezer Weizman, 80. Former Israeli president; helped bring about first peace treaty with an Arab country. April 24.
Howard Benedict, 77. Chronicled America's journey into space as longtime Associated Press aerospace writer. April 25.
Maria Schell, 79. Leading actress of German-speaking films; sister of Maximilian Schell. April 26.
MAY:
Kenneth B. Clark, 90. Psychologist who influenced Supreme Court decision banning school segregation. May 1.
Bob Hunter, 63. Co-founded environmental group Greenpeace. May 2.
David Hackworth, 74. Vietnam veteran who spoke out against the war, later a journalist. May 4.
Peter W. Rodino Jr., 95. Twenty-term New Jersey congressman; led House impeachment investigation of Nixon. May 7.
Lloyd Cutler, 87. White House counsel to Presidents Carter and Clinton; longtime Washington lawyer. May 8.
Jose Lopez, 94. Awarded Medal of Honor for killing more than 100 Germans in skirmish in World War II. May 16.
Frank Gorshin, 72. Impressionist; Emmy-nominated for role as the Riddler on "Batman" TV series. May 17.
Thurl Ravenscroft, 91. Voice of Tony the Tiger ("They're grrrrreeeat!"). May 22.
Ismail Merchant, 68. With partner James Ivory, produced intelligent film dramas ("The Remains of the Day"). May 25.
Chico Carrasquel, 77. White Sox shortstop; first Latin player in All-Star game. May 26.
Eddie Albert, 99. Actor; the befuddled city slicker-turned-farmer on "Green Acres." May 26.
JUNE:
Josephine Clay Ford, 81. Philanthropist; Henry Ford's only granddaughter. June 1.
George Mikan, 80. Pro basketball's first dominant big man; led Minneapolis Lakers to five championships. June 1.
Anne Bancroft, 73. Won 1962 Oscar as Helen Keller's teacher in "The Miracle Worker"; achieved even greater fame in "The Graduate." June 6.
Jim Exon, 83. Two-term Nebraska governor, three-term senator; helped shape military policy. June 10.
Kenneth Taylor, 88. Founded Christian publishing house that created The Living Bible. June 10.
Vasco Goncalves, 83. Former Portuguese prime minister; played key part in 1974 revolution against right-wing dictatorship. June 11.
Percy Arrowsmith, 105. He and wife Florence, 100, held world record for longest marriage, 80 years. June 15.
James Weinstein, 78. Publisher of reformist magazine In These Times. June 16.
Gene Miller, 76. Won Pulitzers for Miami Herald stories that led to release of people wrongly convicted of murder. June 17.
J.J. "Jake" Pickle, 91. Texas congressman for three decades; helped pass 1980s Social Security reform. June 18.
Larry Collins, 75. Co-author of "Is Paris Burning?," best-seller on Nazi occupation of French capital. June 20.
Jack Kilby, 81. Nobel laureate whose 1958 invention of the integrated circuit opened the way for microchips, the brains of computers, electronic gadgets. June 20.
Charles D. Keeling, 77. Scientist whose study of carbon-dioxide in atmosphere helped trigger global warming fears. June 20.
Cardinal Jaime Sin, 76. One of Asia's top religious leaders, aided the "people power" revolts that ousted two Philippine presidents. June 21.
Retired Gen. Louis H. Wilson, 85. Medal of Honor winner; Marine Corps commandant. June 21.
John Walton, 58. Billionaire Wal-Mart heir; philanthropist. June 27. Plane crash.
Shelby Foote, 88. Brought Southern storyteller's touch to his multivolume work on the Civil War, and landmark PBS series. June 27.
Oliver Jensen, 91. Co-founder, editor of American Heritage magazine. June 30.
JULY:
Luther Vandross, 54. Grammy winner with lush voice on such hits as "Here and Now," the bittersweet "Dance With My Father." July 1. Stroke.
Renaldo "Obie" Benson, 69. Member of Motown's Four Tops ("I Can't Help Myself"). July 1.
Ernest Lehman, 89. Six-time Oscar nominee as screenwriter ("North by Northwest"), producer ("Hello, Dolly"). July 2.
Nan Kempner, 74. Quintessential New York socialite, fashion plate. July 3.
Gaylord Nelson, 89. Former Wisconsin governor and senator; founded Earth Day. July 3.
Hank Stram, 82. Football coach; took Kansas City Chiefs to two Super Bowls. July 4.
James Stockdale, 81. Ross Perot's 1992 running mate; retired vice admiral who received Medal of Honor after enduring 7 1/2 years in a North Vietnamese prison. July 5.
L. Patrick Gray, 88. Acting FBI director during Watergate break-in. July 6.
Evan Hunter, 78. His Ed McBain detective series pioneered the police procedural genre. July 6.
Claude Simon, 91. French novelist; won 1985 Nobel for literature. July 6.
Frances Langford, 92. Actress-singer who captivated soldiers on USO tours during World War II. July 11.
Arthur Fletcher, 80. Adviser to Republican presidents, boosted affirmative action. July 12.
Sir Edward Heath, 89. Prime minister who led England into the European Union. July 17.
Geraldine Fitzgerald, 91. In classic 1939 films "Dark Victory," "Wuthering Heights"; also noted stage actress. July 17.
Retired Gen. William Westmoreland, 91. Commanded American troops in Vietnam. July 18.
James Doohan, 85. As "Star Trek" chief engineer, he responded to the command "Beam me up, Scotty." July 20.
Jack Stephens, 81. Arkansas financier, philanthropist; firm underwrote Wal-Mart's IPO. July 23.
Sir Richard Doll, 92. British scientist who first established link between smoking, lung cancer. July 24.
John Garang, 60. Longtime Sudanese rebel who had recently been sworn in as the country's No. 2 leader. July 30. Helicopter crash.
AUGUST:
Saudi Arabia's King Fahd, 84. He sought to modernize his kingdom while balancing change against orthodox Islam. Aug. 1.
Jay Hammond, 83. Two-term Alaska governor; helped create oil-royalty fund that dispenses annual checks. Aug. 2.
Hunter Kelly, 8. His battle with a nervous system disease inspired fundraising crusade by his father, Football Hall of Famer Jim Kelly. Aug. 5.
Robin Cook, 59. British foreign secretary; quit Tony Blair's Cabinet in 2003 to protest Iraq war. Aug. 6.
Peter Jennings, 67. Longtime ABC News anchor, part of a triumvirate that dominated network news for two decades. Aug. 7.
John H. Johnson, 87. Publisher whose Ebony, Jet magazines countered stereotypical coverage of blacks. Aug. 8.
Barbara Bel Geddes, 82. Oscar-nominated actress ("I Remember Mama"); Miss Ellie Ewing in "Dallas." Aug. 8.
Francois Dalle, 87. Chief executive of L'Oreal; credited with transforming cosmetics company into global giant. Aug. 9.
Judith Rossner, 70. Her novel "Looking for Mr. Goodbar" was made into a movie starring Diane Keaton. Aug. 9.
Ted "Double Duty" Radcliffe, 103. Negro Leagues star given nickname by Damon Runyon. Aug. 11.
David Lange, 63. New Zealand prime minister whose anti-nuclear policy strained relations with U.S. Aug. 13.
Vassar Clements, 77. Nashville fiddle virtuoso, A-list studio musician. Aug. 16.
Mo Mowlam, 55. British politician; helped forge Northern Ireland peace accord. Aug. 19.
Robert A. Moog, 71. His synthesizers revolutionized music in the 1960s. Aug. 21.
Richard Kelly, 81. Florida congressman caught in Abscam scandal. Aug. 22.
Brock Peters, 78. Played black man falsely accused of rape in "To Kill a Mockingbird." Aug. 23.
Jude Wanniski, 69. Economist; advocated tax cuts as economic stimulus. Aug. 29.
Hendrikje van Andel-Schipper, age 115 years, 2 months and 1 day. Dutchwoman listed as world's oldest person. Aug. 30.
Joseph Rotblat, 96. Won Nobel Peace Prize for efforts against atomic weapons. Aug. 31.
SEPTEMBER:
Bob Denver, 70. Bumbling namesake of "Gilligan's Island" who delighted generations of TV fans. Sept. 2.
Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist, 80. In 33 years on the high court, he oversaw the high court's conservative shift and presided over President Clinton's impeachment trial. Sept. 3.
Jack Real, 90. Aviation pioneer who helped develop the Apache helicopter. Sept. 6.
Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown, 81. Singer and guitarist, playing blues, country, jazz and Cajun music. Sept. 10.
Chris Schenkel, 82. Sportscaster whose easygoing baritone won fans during a more than six-decade broadcasting career. Sept. 11.
Joe Smitherman, 75. Was Selma, Ala., mayor during the turbulent civil rights era. Sept. 11.
Robert Wise, 91. Won four Oscars as producer and director of "West Side Story," "The Sound of Music." Sept. 14.
Gordon Gould, 85. He coined the word "laser," won legal battle to secure patent rights. Sept. 16.
Sandra Feldman, 65. Led American Federation of Teachers. Sept. 18.
Simon Wiesenthal, 96. Holocaust survivor who helped track down Nazi criminals; fought prejudice. Sept. 20.
Molly Yard, 93. Led National Organization for Women during fight over Robert Bork's Supreme Court nomination. Sept. 21.
Don Adams, 82. The fumbling secret agent Maxwell Smart in TV's Bond spoof "Get Smart." Sept. 25.
Leo Sternbach, 97. Inventor of class of tranquilizers that included Valium. Sept. 28
Constance Baker Motley, 84. Civil rights lawyer who took part in key desegregation cases; later first black woman federal judge. Sept. 28.
OCTOBER:
August Wilson, 60. Playwright whose 10-play cycle on the black experience included such landmark dramas as "Fences," "Ma Rainey's Black Bottom." Oct. 2. Liver cancer.
Nipsey Russell, 80. Witty actor-comedian who was a staple of TV game shows; Tin Man in "The Wiz." Oct. 2.
Stan Hathaway, 81. Former Wyoming governor; spearheaded creation of trust fund to harness state's mineral wealth. Oct. 4.
Milton Obote, 80. Two-time president of Uganda; initial term ended with a coup led by Idi Amin, second was best known for its harsh repression. Oct. 10.
Jack White, 63. Reporter who won Pulitzer for uncovering President Nixon's underpayment of income taxes. Oct. 12.
C. DeLores Tucker, 78. Longtime civil rights activist. Oct. 12.
Vivian Malone Jones, 63. One of two blacks whose enrollment at the University of Alabama led to George Wallace's infamous "stand in the schoolhouse door." Oct. 13.
Elmer "Len" Dresslar Jr., 80. The booming voice of the Jolly Green Giant. Oct. 16.
Ba Jin, 100. One of China's most revered communist-era writers. Oct. 17.
Alexander Yakovlev, 81. He helped spearhead former Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev's political reforms. Oct. 18.
Jean-Michel Folon, 71. Belgium-born artist whose vivid images appear in galleries and on posters. Oct. 20.
Shirley Horn, 71. Jazz pianist and vocalist; revered as master interpreter of American standards. Oct. 20.
John Monagan, 93. Seven-term congressman from Connecticut. Oct. 23.
Rosa Parks, 92. Her refusal to give up her bus seat to a white man sparked the modern civil rights movement. Oct. 24.
Edward Roybal, 89. Hispanic leader; spent three decades in Congress as advocate for minorities, the poor. Oct. 24.
Wellington Mara, 89. New York Giants owner; one of NFL's most influential leaders. Oct. 25.
Richard Smalley, 62. Nobel winner who helped discover unusual molecules called buckyballs; championed nanotechnology. Oct. 28.
Al Lopez, 97. Hall of Fame catcher; managed pennant-winning teams in 1954 (Indians) and 1959 (White Sox). Oct. 30.
NOVEMBER:
Skitch Henderson, 87. Began a television tradition as first bandleader of "The Tonight Show." Nov. 1.
Endre Marton, 95. Associated Press correspondent, provided the first eyewitness account of the 1956 Hungarian uprising. Nov. 1.
Earl Krugel, 62, Jewish Defense League activist imprisoned for role in a bomb plot. Nov. 4. Assaulted in prison.
John Fowles, 79. British author ("The Collector," "The French Lieutenant's Woman"). Nov. 5.
Link Wray, 76. Guitar innovator; inspired such legends as Bruce Springsteen, Pete Townshend. Nov. 5.
Robert Eugene Bush, 79. Received Medal of Honor while in his teens for bravery at Okinawa. Nov. 8.
K.R. Narayanan, 85. First "untouchable" to become president of India. Nov. 9.
Peter F. Drucker, 95. His books stressing innovation, entrepreneurship deeply influenced world of business. Nov. 11.
Vine Deloria Jr., 72. Author, advocate of Indian rights ("Custer Died for Your Sins"). Nov. 13.
The Rev. Adrian Rogers, 74. President of Southern Baptist Convention. Nov. 15.
Robert Tisch, 79. Businessman; co-owner of football's New York Giants. Nov. 15.
Ralph Edwards, 92. Broadcasting pioneer who spotlighted stars and ordinary people as host of the popular show "This Is Your Life." Nov. 16.
Alfred Anderson, 109. British World War I veteran; last survivor to have witnessed the spontaneous "Christmas Truce" of 1914. Nov. 21.
Hugh Sidey, 78. Longtime writer of Time magazine's "The Presidency" column. Nov. 21.
Dr. Thomas Royle Dawber, 92. Directed Framingham Heart Study that transformed the understanding of heart disease. Nov. 23.
Pat Morita, 73. Nominated for Oscar for role as the wise martial-arts teacher in "The Karate Kid." Nov. 24.
George Best, 59. One of the most dazzling players in soccer history. Nov. 25. Alcohol abuse.
Jean Parker, 90. Actress; was Beth to Katharine Hepburn's Jo in 1933's "Little Women." Nov. 30.
DECEMBER:
Peter E. Haas Sr., 86. Helped build family-owned Levi Strauss & Co. into socially conscious clothing empire. Dec. 3.
Frederick Ashworth, 93. Weaponeer aboard the B-29 that dropped atomic bomb on Nagasaki, Japan, in 1945. Dec. 3.
Carroll Campbell Jr., 65. As South Carolina governor, helped turn state into a Republican stronghold. Dec. 7.
Eugene McCarthy, 89. Former Minnesota senator whose antiwar campaign toppled Lyndon Johnson in 1968. Dec. 10.
Richard Pryor, 65. Actor-comedian whose profanely personal insights into race relations made him one of Hollywood's biggest stars. Dec. 10.
Stanley “Tookie” Williams, 51: Founder of the Crips gang who gained fame as an author while on death row, executed in California for the murders of four people. Dec. 13.
William Proxmire, 90: Wisconsin senator who made his mark in Congress by taking on government waste with his mocking "Golden Fleece" awards. Dec. 15.
John Spencer, 58: Emmy Award-winning actor who played the role of Leo McGarry in "The West Wing." Dec. 16.
Jack Anderson, 83: Pulitzer Prize-winning muckraking columnist who struck fear into the hearts of corrupt or secretive politicians. Dec. 17.
Vincent (the Chin) Gigante, 77: powerful Mafioso who avoided jail for decades by wandering the streets in a ratty bathrobe and slippers, feigning mental illness. Dec. 1.
To read more about the memorable events that shaped 2005, click here.
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